Indo-UK Advisory Group to be announced during British PM's visit

Published: Monday, January 14, 2008, 18:33 [IST]

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New Delhi, Jan 14 (UNI) To enhance bilateral ties and identify the key areas of business cooperation between India and the UK, an 'Advisory Group' will be commissioned during the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's forthcoming visit to the country.

Speaking at a function organized by Indo-UK Business Forum under aegis of industry chamber Assocham, the chairman of Cobra Beer (UK) Lord Karan Bilimoria said, ''the advisory group would consist of 42 leading businessmen of UK and India including me. Prominent among them would be Ian Robertson (chairman and chief executive Rolls-Royce), Lord Swaraj Paul (a well known NRI).'' Mr Bilimoria, who is currently leading a 40-member business delegation to India, revealed the primary job of the advisory group would be to identify the key areas of business cooperation between India and UK, significant among them would be cooperation in the field of energy, telecom, aerospace, science&technology, exchange of information on high academics by involving leading universities of the two countries.

The other areas in which the group would try to strike business cooperation would include automobile sector and facilitate mergers and acquisitions in this area between industries of UK and that of India.

The Indo-UK business forum is floated by the chamber under the Chairmanship of Rajpal Chowdhury.

Lord Bilimoria was non-committal on the time frame by which the advisory group would be launched but said that it would happen as soon as the visit of British Prime Minister to India is finalised.

The launch, according to him would be a joint initiative in which the Indian Prime Minister would also be present.